New Delhi: In a unique initiative, AIIMS will train the teachers of Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country on oral health so that students are sensitised about the significance of dental hygiene.
The mission assumes significance in light of studies showing that children suffering from oral health issues like pain in gum are four times more likely to miss schools and fare poorly in exams.
Lack of oral care could also directly contribute to healthcare expenses.
This is the first time that AIIMS, New Delhi has initiated capacity building on-site for teachers across India and select them as master trainers, news agency reported on Thursday said quoting chief of AIIMS’ Centre for Dental Education and Research (CDER), Dr O P Kharbanda. The first workshop concluded recently.
“The teachers will carry the knowledge back to their respective schools and train more groups of teachers and sensitise students about the significance of oral health and dental hygiene”, he said.
One of the objectives of training the teachers is to make good use of the hours they spent in classes with the students, he said.
“Oral health is an integral part of healthy body-mind and spirit. Considering the fact that it is not pragmatic for the doctors to reach out to all the schools, it was reiterated in the programme that teachers should step up their initiatives towards building a healthy society,” PTI quoted him as saying.